– My wish for next year is that we live our lives, individually and collectively, in a way where we treat each other with kindness, empathy and togetherness, said Türk in a statement the day before New Year’s Eve.

He also urged people to disagree in an honorable way:

– Regarding how we behave online, I hope we can feel free to express ourselves knowing that we are protected from hate and misinformation. That we are wise when we share our opinion, and think about the person on the other side of the screen, he said.

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Call to Musk

Türk – who took over as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in October this year – has also taken a hard line against what he believes to be devalued identity policies, in which people are labeled and boxed in based on group affiliation.

– I hope we can disagree with respect and embrace diversity. There is no place to denigrate others by using reductive labels or identity politics, said Türk.

Türk – who is originally from Austria and has worked in the UN system for many years – has also previously warned against the spread of hate speech online. One of his first steps as UN human rights chief was a call to Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk to make respect for human rights a key guiding principle on the social platform.

On Tuesday this week, she called on the Taliban to immediately lift the ban on women working in non-governmental organizations, while condemning policies that left half of Afghanistan’s population socially and economically excluded.

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– Responding to injustice

– By 2023, we must ensure that women’s rights are respected at home and in public, that women and girls are fully equal and free from discrimination, said Türk, who also attacks environmental campaigns.

– To secure the rights of present and future generations, let’s treat our planet with the kindness and humility it deserves, he said.

Lastly, he asked people to react when injustice is done to others.

– On the eve of next year’s 75th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let’s strive to make the world more dignified, a world where everyone’s rights are respected, he said.

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